Points

T OPIC:L EARNING HOW TO USE M ODEL UN POINTS AND MOTIONSO BJECTIVES•Identify important points and motions.•Use points and motions correctly.R EQUIREMENTS1.Time: 1-2 class periods2.Materials Needed:•Handout H: Points and Motions Chart•Handout I: What Do You Say?P ROCEDURE1.Lesson Introduction/Activation of Prior KnowledgeWrite a few of the points and motions terms on the board and ask students what they think these mean.Discuss their answers.2.ActivityProvide students with Handout K: Points and Motions Chart. See if their responses to the brainstorming activity above were similar to the definitions on the chart. Go over each of the points and motions on the chart with the students.Provide students with Handout I: What do you Say? Review the different scenarios with the students.Working in groups of 2-3 students ask them to write exactly what they think should be said to the chair.You may want to do a few of these exercises with them. This is also a good opportunity to invite a Model UN trainer to your class to help with Points and Motions.Once students have completed their charts, review their answers.3.Closing/Wrap-UpHave student role play some of the scenarios with each other so they can practice the language and answer the questions.H ANDOUT H:P OINTS AND M OTIONS C HARTMotions Description Vote to PassSuspend the Meeting Suspending the meeting means calling for a moderated or unmoderatedcaucus. When moving to suspend the meeting, delegates should specifythe purpose for and length of the suspension. This motion requires animmediate vote.SimplemajorityAdjourn Meeting Adjourning the meeting ends the committee session until the next session, which may be held the following year. The motion is mostcommonly made to end a committee session for the purpose of lunchor dinner. It requires an immediate vote. Simple majorityTable Debate This motion must not be confused with the motion to adjourn the meeting. Tabling debate ends debate on the topic. Delegates can tabledebate, move on to another topic and return to the first topic at a latertime. Before going to a vote, two delegates must speak in favor oftabling debate and two speak against it. Two-thirds majorityClose Debate Closing debate allows the committee to move into voting procedure.Once a delegate feels that his or her country’s position has been madeclear, that there are enough draft resolutions on the floor and that allother delegates are ready, he or she can move for the closure of debate.Two delegates usually speak against the closure of debate. None speakfor it. Two-thirds majorityAppeal the Chair’sDecision This motion is made when a delegate feels that the chairperson hasmade an incorrect decision. The appeal must first be made in writing.No votePoint of Order Points of order are used when delegates believe the chair has made anerror in the running of the committee. Delegates rising to points oforder may not speak on the substance of the matter under discussion.They should only specify the errors they believe were made in theformal committee procedure.No votePoint of Inquiry (or Point of Parliamentary Procedure) When the floor is open (i.e., no other delegate is speaking), a delegatemay rise to a point of inquiry in order to ask the chairperson a questionregarding the rules of procedure.No votePoint of Personal Privilege Points of personal privilege are used to inform the chairperson of aphysical discomfort a delegate is experiencing, such as the inability tohear another delegate’s speech.No votePoint of Information After a delegate has given a speech in formal debate, he or she may yieldtime to points of information, or questions from other delegatesconcerning the speech.No voteH ANDOUT I:W HAT D O Y OU S AY?Using the Handout H: Points and Motions Chart, determine which point or motion is being made under the Description. Then write exactly what you would say to make this point or motion.Description What do you say?The delegate has a question regarding the rules of procedure.Delegate wishes to adjourn the meeting until next session.Usually used to adjourn for lunch or dinner.Delegate wishes to yield time to points of information orquestions from other delegates about the speech.Delegate wishes to tell the chair about of a physicaldiscomfort they are experiencing (the inability to hearanother delegate’s speech, that the room is too hot, etc.).Delegate wishes to suspend debate in order for a moderatedor un-moderated caucus. The purpose and the length of thesuspension need to be stated.Delegate wishes to end the debate on the topic. This topiccan be returned to at a later time. Before going to a vote, twodelegates must speak in favor of tabling the debate and twomust speak against it.A delegate has just finished their speech. Another delegatewould like to ask them a question about speech. (Please note,that a speaker must be open to questions.)The delegate feels that the chairperson has made an incorrectdecision. The appeal must first be made in writing.Delegate wishes to close the debate and move to voting.A NSWER K EY TO H ANDOUT I:W HAT D O Y OU S AY?Description What do you say? The delegate has a question regarding the rules of procedure.point of Inquiry.Delegate wishes to adjourn the meeting until next session. Usually used to adjourn for lunch or dinner. Honorable Chair, (Country Name) moves to suspend debate for the purpose of lunchDelegate wishes to yield time to points of information or questions from other delegates about the speech. Honorable Chair, (Country Name) yields to points of informationORHonorable Chair, (Country Name) is open to questionsDelegate wishes to tell the chair about of a physical discomfort the delegate is experience (the inability to hear another delegate’s speech, that the room is too hot, etc.). Honorable Chair, (Country Name) has a point of personal privilege, we cannot hear the speaker, the room is too hot, etc…Delegate wishes to suspend debate in order for a moderated or un-moderated caucus. The purpose and the length of the suspension need to be stated. Honorable Chair, (Country Name) moves to suspend the meeting for the purpose of a moderated/ caucus to discuss landmines for 25 minutes, with a 1 minute speaking time.ORHonorable Chair, (Country Name) moves to suspend the meeting for an un-moderated caucus for 20 minutes.Delegate wishes to end the debate on the topic. This topic can be returned to at a later time. Before going to a vote, two delegates must speak in favor of tabling the debate and two must speak against it. Honorable Chair, (Country Name) moves to table the topic of landmines to be discussed at a later time.A delegate has just finished their speech. Another delegate would like to ask them a question about speech. (Please note, that a speaker must be open to questions.) Honorable Chair, (Country Name) has a point of information for the delegate.The delegate feels that the chairperson has made an incorrect decision. The appeal must first be made in writing. Honorable Chair, (Country Name) moves for an Appeal of the Chair (after a note has been accepted).Delegate wishes to close the debate and move to voting. Honorable Chair, (Country Name) movesfor Closure of Debate on this topic.。